Zimbabwe has showcased its growing commitment to gastronomy tourism on the international stage after being invited by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to share its experience at the WILD Exchange 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.
The invitation follows the introduction of the Zimbabwe National Gastronomy Strategy 2026–2030, which was approved by Cabinet in July 2026 and positions traditional cuisine as an important pillar of the country’s tourism development agenda.
As one of the pioneering African countries to institutionalise African traditional cuisine within Government and the private sector, Zimbabwe is working to transform its indigenous food heritage into a driver of tourism, cultural preservation and economic growth.
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi expressed gratitude to the First Lady and Patron of Tourism, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, for reintroducing Zimbabwe’s traditional cuisine and championing the development of its entire value chain.
The Minister highlighted the importance of ensuring that women, young people, persons with disabilities and rural communities participate meaningfully in the opportunities emerging from gastronomy tourism.
The engagement also highlighted the role of indigenous food systems in safeguarding cultural identity, recognising local communities as custodians of traditional culinary knowledge and creating sustainable livelihoods through heritage-based tourism.
Through its WILD Africa and Caribbean initiative, FAO is working to connect indigenous foods and heritage food systems across the two regions to wider markets. The initiative seeks to unlock opportunities through culinary innovation, premium hospitality, tourism and international trade.
Zimbabwe’s participation reinforces the country’s efforts to position its culinary heritage as a distinctive tourism attraction while ensuring that communities benefit economically from the preservation and promotion of their traditions.
The National Gastronomy Strategy is expected to strengthen the connection between food, culture and tourism, giving traditional cuisine greater visibility in Zimbabwe’s tourism offering and creating opportunities for local producers, hospitality businesses and communities.
Under the banner of *Experience Zimbabwe*, the country continues to promote its heritage through the values of *Nhaka Yedu, Ilifa Lethu, Our Heritage, This Is Us*.
